Most Popular

Lichtenberger says the only choice is to stay true to their roots and their fans.

“We're in the studio finishing out an album, and we do think about, 'Who do we plan on satisfying?' It's a tough battle,” he explained.

“All bands that have been around as long as we've been around have that same challenge. Basically, we just do what feels good. But there's no way we can do some of the (regional Mexican) styles that are on the radio.”

He's referring to some of the hyper West Coast sounds coming into vogue, including musica alterada, an ultra-fast variant of norteño.

“It's like norteño turned up on 78 rpm. It's like a rave, a whole different scene. We have nothing in common. We're always looking for that common denominator. It's getting harder.”

De La Rosa, a solo star in his own right, has always been La Mafia's most passionate, outspoken member. There's another drought on his mind — the one involving Tejano music and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

More Information

“The people at the rodeo may not like this, but I think it's very disrespectful that the rodeo doesn't respect the Tejano artist. There are still a lot of big Tejano artists that should be performing at that rodeo, indoors not outdoors,” De La Rosa said.

“I don't think that's right. I think fans in San Antonio should protest. It's time we start standing up. I think Tejano artists shouldn't even play on the grounds. They should just stay away from it until they get the respect and get a spot indoors.”